EVANGELISM PART 2
EVANGELISM FOUNDATIONS
Sharing the Gospel in Christ's Strength
SOME BASICS TO HELP YOU SHARE THE GOSPEL
In this part we lay the foundation for confident personal evangelism. Do you live a Christian life that commends you to others? Do you pray for evangelism opportunities? Is evangelism high on your list of priorities? Do you have people you dearly want saved?
We recognise that evangelism is challenging in our post-Christian culture. Sam Chan explains why and provides some excellent approaches to address these challenges. Tim Keller discusses how we can share the gospel in culturally diverse cities.
If you're serious about improving your ability to share the gospel with family and friends we encourage you to use the Evangelism Coaching Guide. We recommend you do this with your Discipleship Group, or a group of friends interested in improving their evangelism confidence and skills.
In Digging Deeper you will find some practical articles including an excellent article by John Piper on how Satan responds when we seek to share the gospel with others. This sobering article points to why prayer is the critical first step to evangelism.
You can subscribe to the Christians Engaging Culture podcast here (or by searching for it in your favourite podcast app). Please help other church members to subscribe too.
Tim Keller - Evangelism in the 21st Century
Tim Keller discusses how we can share the gospel in culturally-diverse cities, outlining how the order in which we present the gospel may change, even though the gospel does not. He provides practical tips on how to introduce the gospel and emphasises that helping and supporting friends (deed ministry) and sharing the gospel (word ministry) go hand-in-hand, especially at a personal level. He discusses how confidence in the gospel increases as we experience breakthrough in our personal faith and see it in the faith of others.
You may also wish to read a summary of Tim Keller's Top 10 Tips for Evangelism. It's concise and helpful.
Duration: 10:57Speaker: Timothy KellerPublisher: Evangelical AllianceDate accessed: 17/5/2019
Where is your friend on their journey to understanding the gospel?
This diagram is a helpful tool to locate your friend on their spiritual journey and provides some suggestions as to how you can evangelise and disciple them. Why not locate the people God has placed on your heart on the diagram and, using the ideas, work out how you may be able to interact with them?
CountiesUK is a practical and encouraging website about evangelism.
THE POWER OF PRAYER
The foundation of effective evangelism is prayer. We need God's Spirit to guide us and embolden us. Commit to pray for yourself and your friends. You may find this Evangelism Prayer Guide useful.
COACH YOURSELF TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT GOSPEL SHARING
We can grow in our effectiveness and confidence as evangelists by regularly reflecting on our efforts to share the gospel. This Evangelism Coaching Guide can be used alone but it is best used in a small group, such as your Discipleship Group. Use the guide to reflect on your conversations and develop new approaches and skills based on your insights. You can also pray for each other and encourage each other.
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BIBLE
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Peter 3:15–17 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
GROUP OR PERSONAL REFLECTION
How might 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 impact the way you speak about your faith to others?
What does 1 Peter 3:15 state is the pre-condition for effective evangelism? What does it mean to give a reason for the hope that we have? What level of suffering would you be prepared to endure for the gospel?
How can you practically and personally apply Tim Keller's 10 hints for evangelism?
Using the Steps to Faith, think about how you might apply this model to talking about Jesus to three of your friends or colleagues?
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
What a privilege it is to be used by you to share your good news of salvation with others. Over the coming weeks please equip me, tackle my fears and encourage me to take practical steps to develop the skills and confidence to share your good news with others.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
DIGGING DEEPER
Here are three great articles on why you should invite your Christians friends along when you are talking to others about Jesus. The first article provides an sobering motivation to pray continually.
This article by John Piper, and the corresponding sermon on the page, describes the strategies Satan uses to prevent evangelism. This sobering article should provide greater motivation to pray as the a continuing part of sharing the gospel.
Estimated read time: 14:10Author: John PiperPublisher: Desiring GodAccessed: 27/5/2019
